FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY.

I'M TODD STACEY.

WELCOME TO CAPITAL JOURNAL.

DAY SIX OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S 2024 REGULAR SESSION IS IN THE BOOKS.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET TODAY TO CLOSE OUT TWO VERY BUSY AND FAST PACED LEGISLATIVE WEEKS.

THAT MEANS WE ARE NOW ONE FIFTH OF THE WAY THROUGH THIS 30 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE BIG STORY OF THE DAY CAME FROM THE HOUSE WHERE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ON SINCE THE SESSION BEGAN.

HOUSE BILLS 151 AND 152 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR WOULD INSTITUTE A STATE LOTTERY, EXPAND AND REGULATE CASINO GAMBLING AND LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING IN ALABAMA.

OF COURSE THEY WOULD FIRST NEED TO PASS THE SENATE AND BE APPROVED BY STATE VOTERS.

HOUSE MEMBERS DEBATED THE BILLS FOR MORE THAN FIVE HOURS.

MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION, MEANING THE OPPOSITION WAS FAR OUTNUMBERED.

THEY WERE VOCAL, HOWEVER, MANY OF THEM COMING FROM THE BIRMINGHAM AREA.

>> SEEMS LIKE I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE GUYS.

THIS HAS COME UP DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

THIS ONE TO GRAB A PHRASE FROM COACH SABAN IS FULL OF RAT POISON.

FULL >> OF RAT POISON.

AND COACH SABAN ALWAYS SAID DON'T COME IN AND TELL THESE GUYS ARE GOOD.

THEY ARE BECAUSE YOU'RE FEEDING THEM RAT POISON.

AND WE KNOW WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT GAMBLING CAUSES SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

GAMBLING TAKES MONEY FROM THE COMMERCE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND PUTS IT INTO THE HANDS OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WILL PROBABLY TAKE THE PROFITS TO ANOTHER STATE AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE WHERE OPENING THE DOOR FOR THINGS THAT WE COULD NOT IMAGINE.

TEN, 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

IT >> IS CERTAINLY A RELIEF FOR ME AS I'VE TRAVELED THE STATE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS TRYING TO FIND THESE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE HIDING IN EVERY EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE.

AND TODAY WE'VE MADE A STEP FORWARD IN SHARING THOSE FOLKS DOWN AND AGAIN, RUNNING THOSE FOLKS OUT OF STATE OF ALABAMA.

SO I COMMEND MY MY COMRADE HERE, MY MY FRIEND THAT'S WORKED THIS PROCESS WITH US FOR SO ALL OF THE LAST 12 OR 14 MONTHS IT'S BEEN A LOT OF A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS FOR US.

BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE APPRECIATIVE.

WE'RE CERTAINLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE MEMBERS THAT CAME AND ASKED QUESTIONS FOR US AND TRIED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS IN THE BILL.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ANY TYPE OF BILL WITH THIS THIS CALIBER, THERE'S A LOT OF FALSE INFORMATION FLOATING AROUND.

THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF OPPOSITION COMING FROM OUT OF STATE.

OUR STATE MONEY AND YOU KNOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY TOOK THE RIGHT STEP FORWARD TODAY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> AFTER THE VOTE, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY RELEASED A STATEMENT REAFFIRMING HER SUPPORT OF THE GAMBLING PLAN.

IT SAID IN PART QUOTE, TODAY'S PASSAGE OF HB 51 AND HB 152 IN THE HOUSE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD AND VERY SIGNIFICANT AS THIS HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY THE HOUSE IN YEARS.

THIS IS A TOUGH, COMPLEX ISSUE AND I COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR, REPRESENTATIVE ANDY WIT AND HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.

END QUOTE.

LET'S REVIEW ONE MORE TIME WHAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES.

IF APPROVED, IT WOULD SCRAP ALL OF ALABAMA'S EXISTING GAMBLING LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING LOCAL BINGO AMENDMENTS.

THEN THE PLAN WOULD INSTITUTE A STATE LOTTERY, EXPAND AND REGULATE CASINO GAMBLING AND LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING.

IT WOULD SET UP A COMMISSION WITH STAFF STRUCTURE TO REGULATE THE INDUSTRY WITH COMMISSION, WITH COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

TEN CASINOS WOULD BE ALLOWED UNDER THE PLAN, INCLUDING THE CURRENT THREE PORCH BAND OF GREEK INDIAN SIDES.

OPERATORS COULD BID FOR LICENSES IN MACON, GREENE, MOBILE, JEFFERSON, HOUSTON AND LOUNGE COUNTIES WHERE OF COURSE THERE ARE EXISTING GAMBLING OPERATIONS.

THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN ADDITIONAL LICENSE AWARDED PENDING APPROVAL OF A COMPACT WITH THE PORCH CREEKS.

CASINOS WOULD BE TAXED AT 24% WHILE SPORTS BETTING WOULD BE TAXED AT 17%.

PROPONENTS ESTIMATE THAT REVENUE TO THE STATE WOULD BE BETWEEN 800 MILLION AND $1 BILLION ANNUALLY.

WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY GO?

LOTTERY PROCEEDS WOULD ALL GO TOWARD A SPECIAL FUND SET ASIDE FOR EDUCATION, CASINO AND SPORTS BETTING REVENUE WOULD BE PLACED IN A TRUST FUND TO SHORE UP GENERAL FUND ACCOUNTS AND THEN USED FOR EXPENDITURES LIKE HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH.

STATE PARKS, STATE RETIREE BENEFITS AND OTHER NON-RECURRING EXPENSES.

THE SENATE TOOK UP AN AGENDA OF MOSTLY NON-CONTROVERSIAL BILLS BUT ONE AIMED AT RAISING THE COMPENSATION FOR LOCAL BOARDS OF REGISTRARS SPARKS SOME DEBATE SPONSORED BY SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON.

SENATE BILL 81 SEEKS TO INCREASE THE DAILY PAY FOR REGISTRARS FROM $80 TO $100.

DURING DISCUSSIONS, SOME SENATORS REPORTED RECEIVING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS URGING THEM TO OPPOSE THE BILL DUE TO CONCERNS OVER LANGUAGE ABOUT RACIAL QUOTAS.

THAT LED TO SOME CLARIFYING CONVERSATIONS ON THE FLOOR.

ONE REGISTRAR CALLED >> ME AND SAID SUPPORT, SUPPORT, SUPPORT.

WE'VE GOT A SMALL PAY RAISE IN THIS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US.

THEN I HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT CALLED ME AND SAID VOTE NO, VOTE NO VOTE NO BECAUSE OF AN ELEMENT WHERE THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING REQUIRED TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS LEGISLATION IN REGARDS TO WHO CAN BE APPOINTED AS A REGISTRAR >> WHEREVER POSSIBLE >> THAT THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS ONLY ISSUE WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE THEY COULD DO THAT.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME COUNTIES THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, BUT THEY WILL AT LEAST COORDINATE TOGETHER >> AND TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

IT'S LIKE BEING IN A BLACK BELT COUNTY AND BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT IT, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS SHOULD BE NEUTRAL.

IT SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT REPUBLICANS.

SHOULDN'T THAT BE ABOUT DEMOCRATS?

BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ELECTORAL PROCESS TO WHERE EVERYBODY FIRST BLACK, WHITE CITIZEN, EVERYBODY COMES TO THAT BOARD REGISTRAR TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND THEY SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE TO GO TO THAT BOARD REGISTRAR'S .

THAT BILL PASSED 15 TO 10 WITH ONE ABSTENTION AND 1010 SENATORS NOT VOTING.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR, THE SPONSOR OF THAT GAMBLING PLAN THAT PASSED TODAY.

FOR SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT DETAILS OF THE BILLS AND THEN ADAM THOMPSON OF AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY IS IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL THAT WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE MOVING NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CAPITAL JOURNAL.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITAL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS A MONUMENTAL ONE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THEY PASSED A GAMBLING PLAN LEGALIZING CASINO STYLE GAMBLING, A STATEWIDE LOTTERY AND ALSO SPORTS BETTING IN ALABAMA.

JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT IT IS THE SPONSOR OF THAT PLAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR OF PHENIX CITY.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

TODD GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU AGAIN.

YOU'VE >> HAD A LONG DAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT ACTUALLY NOT AS LONG AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT IT WASN'T THIS GO TO MIDNIGHT KIND OF THING THAT YOU TYPICALLY SEE FOR CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION.

TALK ABOUT WHAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'LL HAVE THE VOTES.

TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE MAKER IN WHAT PUT THIS OVER THE TOP IN TERM BECAUSE LOOK, THIS IS ALWAYS DONE IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER IN CHANGING THAT NARRATIVE?

I THINK FIRST OFF, IT STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S AT THE TOP WITH SPEAKER IN THE THING IN LEDBETTER WHEN HE OPPONENT REPRESENTATIVE ANDY WITT TO LEAD A LITTLE KIND OF TASK FORCE OVER A YEAR AGO TO REALLY GO OFF AND CHALLENGE US TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE AROUND THE STATE AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE SENATE HAD PASSED WHAT I THINK THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMING PLAN AND WE NEVER TOOK ANYTHING UP IN THE HOUSE.

AND WE SAID, LOOK, THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM IN OUR STATE THAT CAN NO LONGER GO UNADDRESSED.

SO WE DUG IN.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT LEADERSHIP BUT ALSO SHOWS THE VALUE OF TRUE COMMUNICATION AND BIPARTISAN WORKMANSHIP.

AND WE WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE.

WE ASKED THE MINORITY CAUCUS TO PUT TOGETHER A WORKING COMMITTEE AS WELL TOO, SO WE CAN WORK ARM IN ARM THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

AND IT PROVES THAT TRUST, LOYALTY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY COMMUNICATION GOES A LONG WAY.

AND I THINK THAT WAS SEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY TODD WHERE SO MANY QUESTIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED BEHIND THE SCENES I MEAN MULTIPLE SIT DOWNS WITH MULTIPLE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

AND I THINK YOU SAW THAT DISPLAYED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY.

MM HMM.

>> AN ISSUE LIKE GAMBLING SOMETIMES BRINGS VERY BIG PASSIONS.

RIGHT.

AND SO YOU HAD SOME COLLEAGUES THAT WERE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT, YOU KNOW, ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN THAT CAN BE TENSE.

BUT TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DOES THE CAUCUS STILL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AGREE TO DISAGREE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SOME OPPOSED TO ANY KIND OF EXPANSION OF GAMBLING AND HAD THEIR VOICES HEARD AND VOTED NO HUSBANDS, WIVES, BOYFRIENDS, GIRLFRIENDS.

IS IT PERFECT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS?

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ALL THE TIME.

IT WOULDN'T BE IT WOULDN'T IN MY OPINION IT WOULDN'T WORK THE BEST AS IT POSSIBLY COULD IF YOU AGREED ON EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES IN LIFE WE LEARN FROM OUR FAILURES.

WE LEARN FROM THINGS THAT MAY NOT GO OUR WAY MORE SO TO BE BETTER APPROACHABLE NEXT TIME.

AND I THINK AS A WHOLE THIS OUR CAUCUS IS STILL TOGETHER.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE FORWARD TO MAKE THIS STATE GREAT AND GREATER THAN WHAT IT ALREADY IS.

AND THIS IS ONLY GOING TO MAKE OUR TEAM STRONGER MOVING FORWARD.

THERE WAS AN EXCHANGE BETWEEN YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE TREADWAY IN COMMITTEE YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.

HE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE FROM EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THIS BECOMES LAW.

SO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL WERE DISCUSSING AND IS THAT COMING TO A RESOLUTION, THE PROBLEMS HE HAD WITH IT?

WELL, FIRST OFF, I REALLY APPRECIATE REPRESENTING TREADAWAY AS WELL.

AS YOU KNOW, HE SAT DOWN WITH US.

WE ASKED HIM TO IT WAS HARD TO FIND SOMEBODY WITH MORE EXPERIENCE IN 30 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIFICALLY IN BIRMINGHAM, ONE OF THE LARGEST HOTBEDS FOR THESE ILLEGAL GAMING OPERATIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN AND STARTING TO REGULATE.

SO WE BROUGHT HIM IN SAY LOOK IT MAKE PASS THE PENALTIES, WRITE THEM UP FOR US.

HOW WOULD YOU INCREASE OUR PENALTIES?

SO WE INCREASED ALL SIX PENALTIES THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS FOR ILLEGAL GAMING.

WE ADDED EIGHT NEW FELONIES IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED TODAY AND THAT WAS ALL REPRESENTED THROUGH 12 WAYS AUTHORSHIP AND PENMANSHIP THAT GOES THERE.

AND HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS BELIEFS AND I LOVE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY MAKE ME BETTER, YOU KNOW, AND THEY MAKE ME SEE A DIFFERENT VIEW.

AND YOU KNOW, HE'S A FIRM BELIEVER BEEN THERE 30 YEARS.

HE'S SEEN SOME PEOPLE FEELS LIKE THEY WEREN'T DONE RIGHT THROUGH THE MERIT SYSTEM PROCESS.

AND WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS WE HAVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION UNDER THE GAMING COMMISSION SET UP TO BE, YOU KNOW, AT WILL EMPLOYERS OUTSIDE THE MERIT SYSTEM.

OUR THOUGHT BEHIND THAT WAS WE CAN BRING IN SOME RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS IN THE STATE.

THEY CAN KEEP THEIR RETIREMENT, THEY CAN KEEP THEIR BENEFITS AND BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FASTER WITH A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE.

AND REPRESENTED TREADWAY THINKS IS THEY JUST NEED TO BE BROUGHT IN UNDERNEATH THE MERIT SYSTEM SO THEY CAN HAVE THAT PROTECTION.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WITH THAT.

MM HMM.

THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS FROM JUST FROM A GENERAL STANDPOINT ABOUT IT BEING SEPARATE LIKE UNDER THE COMMISSION RATHER THAN TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BASICALLY.

ALIA.

SO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WHY MAKE THE DECISION TO HAVE AN ENTIRE SEPARATE LAW ENFORCEMENT RATHER THAN A TRUSTED BRAND LIKE ALIA ?

WELL, YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, ALI IS ALREADY STRUGGLING, COULD KEEP TROOPERS ON THE ROADS AS IT IS.

WHY THROW MORE WEIGHT ON SOME SHOULDERS OF AN ORGANIZATION IS STILL TRYING TO FIND A WAYS TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE WEIGHTS AND ROAD, YOU KNOW, ROADBLOCKS THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM.

SO THIS GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY AND THIS OTHER CAN TRULY FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC AREA OF THE STATE AND DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM ANYTHING ELSE OUR CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENTS OR WORKING ON AND ENFORCING THOSE LAWS.

AND PLUS TO THIS DIDN'T TAKE ANY MONEY DIRECTLY OUT OF THE EXISTING BUDGET.

IT WILL ALL BE FUNDED FROM THE NET GAMING REVENUES THAT COME INTO THE STATE.

SO TO KIND OF BE YOUR STAND ALONE SELF FUNDING ENFORCEMENT WING.

I SEE NOW I HAVE I'VE HAD THIS QUESTION SINCE THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE KEEP SAYING TEN CASINOS.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THIS OTHER ADDITIONAL LICENSE THAT'S AVAILABLE AFTER A COMPACT.

SO WHAT'S THE NUMBER?

IS IT TEN >> OR IS IT A LESSER?

SO LET'S START AT GROUND LEVEL.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S THREE EXISTING CASINOS TODAY SPORTS GREAT PORCH CREEK THAT ARE IN ATMORE, TALBOT AND WHITAKER AND THOSE ARE ALL FAIRLY PROTECTED LAND.

SO THERE'S THREE.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO AMOUNT OF LICENSE BECAUSE IN LICENSE WE CAN ISSUE YOU CAN'T COUNT THOSE THREE.

BUT WE WERE JUST TRYING TO BE COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE SEVEN NO MORE THAN SEVEN LICENSE.

AND KEEP IN MIND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WE PUT THAT INTO THE CAA SO THAT PASSES AND RATIFIED BY THE CITIZENS.

IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER VOTE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE TO INCREASE MORE THAN SEVEN LICENSE.

OKAY.

AND ONE OF THOSE SEVEN WAS PART OF THE THAT WOULD GO TO THE PCR FOR A COMPACT.

OKAY.

SO TEN IS THE NUMBER TEN, IS IT NOT?

NO, TEN IS THE NUMBER COUNTING TO THREE.

AND AGAIN, THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE MAX.

IT CAN BE INTERESTING.

THERE'S ALSO THIS QUESTION OF HEALTH CARE AND LIKE IT WAS KIND OF NONSPECIFIC BECAUSE I REMEMBER BACK IN 2021 THAT WAS KIND OF THE BREAKDOWN.

RIGHT.

HOW SPECIFIC ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABOUT MEDICAID VERSUS JUST MORE GENERAL LANGUAGE ON HEALTH CARE?

BUT LOOK AT DEMOCRATS.

THIS IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR THEM AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS.

MAYBE IT'S NOT MEDICAID EXPANSION.

MAYBE IT'S A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP KIND OF THING.

BUT DO YOU EXPECT THIS REVENUE TO HELP FUND SOME KIND OF HEALTH CARE, MAKING MORE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO MORE ALABAMIANS?

WELL, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO TAKE THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS OUT OF IT FOR A MOMENT AND REALIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RURAL AREAS IN THE STATE AND THERE'S POCKETS AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IN ALL 67 COUNTIES IN THIS STATE THAT HAVE A LACK OF SOME TYPE OF HEALTH SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S TELEMEDICINE, AMBULATORY CARE.

THEY MAY BE DRIVING 50 PLUS MILES TO GET TREATMENT TO SEE A DOCTOR, A SPECIALIST THAT WAS ALL MEANT TO BE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT OUR NEEDS MAY BE IN THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST ADEQUATE UP TO DATE AND READY AVAILABLE AND EASIEST ACCESS TO ANY TYPE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

SO YOU THINK SOME OF THIS REVENUE GOES TO PAY FOR THAT >> LIKE GIVING WAS GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

WELL, YOU GIVE EXAMPLE ON THIS I THINK THE ASKED THIS YEAR IN THE MEDICAID THE BUDGET FOR MEDICAID IS 91 MILLION ADDITIONAL AN INCREASE IN INCREASE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS AND I'M JUST THIS PAST BOARD ON THIS WE ALL OF A SUDDEN DON'T HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL.

THE ONLY MONEY YOU WOULD HAVE WOULD BE THE GAMING REVENUE YOU HAVE YOU WOULD HAVE A CHOICE TO SAY, OKAY, I'LL PULL $91 MILLION OUT OF THIS GAMING SUPPLEMENTAL TO FUND THE ADDITIONAL ASK OF MEDICAID TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BOOKS BEFORE YOU CUT $91 MILLION IN OTHER SERVICES.

BUT IT'S NOT EARMARKED ALREADY.

NO, IT'S JUST THINGS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND EVERYTHING IS AND YOU GOTTA THINK NOW IS NON-RECURRING SO YOU CAN'T USE THESE FUNDS FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD FUND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TURNS INTO REOCCURRING.

>> I SEE.

OKAY, THAT'S INTERESTING.

WELL WELL, WE'LL FOLLOW THAT GOING FORWARD.

THAT'S AN ISSUE WE ARE REALLY HONED IN ON.

WELL, WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT THIS OBVIOUSLY GOES TO THE SENATE NOW.

WHOLE DIFFERENT BODY, DIFFERENT RULES, LOTS OF FILIBUSTERS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO DO A WHIP COUNT?

WHAT WHAT IS THIS BILL?

WHAT IS ITS PLANS?

CHANCES IN THE SENATE?

WELL, I THINK FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, I SAID AT THE TOP OF THE SEGMENT WITH YOU AS I THINK IT'S BEEN THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, WE FAILED TO TAKE SOMETHING UP IN THE HOUSE AND WE DID IT THIS TIME.

SO SEND IT ALL BRING CALL ME RIGHT AFTER WE PASS THE VOTE.

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS.

I SAY, WELL, WE SHOWED IT TO PLAY BALL THIS TIME, SENATOR.

I SAID, I'M GOING TO TOSS IT OVER TO YOU AND LET YOU RUN WITH IT NOW AND THAT'S THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT THE MARKETS AND THE PROCESS AND THE SYSTEM WE HAVE SET UP IS TWO DIFFERENT BODIES FOR A REASON.

THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THEIR DEBATE, THEIR DISCUSSION ON THE FLOOR AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE.

WELL, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING WELL, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO HIT THE ROAD.

BUT THANKS FOR COMING ON AND ANSWERING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT A VERY BIG IMPORTANT POLICY DECISION TODAY.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

YEAH.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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WELCOME BACK TO CAPITAL JOURNAL.

SCHOOL CHOICE AND SPECIFICALLY EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT LEGISLATION IS A BIG ISSUE IN THIS 2024 REGULAR SESSION.

ONE ORGANIZATION INVOLVED IN THAT DEBATE IS AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY.

AND JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT IS ADAM THOMPSON, STATE DIRECTOR FOR AFP.

ADAM, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

WELL, LOOK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR AFP.

I KNOW THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW ROLE FOR YOU, BUT YOU'VE HAD OTHER ROLES IN ALABAMA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

BUT ALSO TELL US MORE ABOUT EFP AND WHY IT'S NOW ENGAGED IN ALABAMA.

SURE, I'D BE HAPPY TO.

SO I'VE SPENT ABOUT 15 YEARS IN STATE GOVERNMENT IN A VARIETY OF POSITIONS, WORKED FOR THREE SECRETARIES OF STATE, A STATE AUDITOR.

GOVERNOR IVEY THEN WAS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF A STATE CABINET AGENCY.

SO I'VE GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE HERE IN ALABAMA.

SO AFP, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY I MEAN WE BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS WHEN BARRIERS ARE REMOVED AND SO WE WORK ACROSS THE NATION TO REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM LIVING THEIR VERSION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

SO WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC ISSUES OR HEALTH CARE OR FREE SPEECH OR OTHER TYPES OF ISSUES INCLUDING AND AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SOMETIMES EDUCATION, WE WORK TO GET THAT GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION.

THOSE EVERYDAY ALABAMIANS INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

SO YOU ALL ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS SCHOOL CHOICE, THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PLAN, RIGHT?

SO LET'S JUST GET INTO THAT.

IT'S UP IN THE SENATE.

IT'S IN COMMITTEE.

THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING BUT NO VOTE YET.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND SO WE EXPECT THAT TO REALLY BE A BIG TOPIC NEXT WEEK.

MAKE THE PITCH.

WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT FOR THIS EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PLAN?

YEAH.

SO IT'S REALLY QUITE SIMPLE.

NO CHILD CHILDREN LEARN THE SAME, RIGHT?

THOSE OF US WHO HAVE CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THAT AND GRANDCHILDREN.

OR IF YOU'RE AN OR AN UNCLE YOU UNDERSTAND ALL CHILDREN ARE UNIQUE.

AND SO A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MODEL THAT WE'VE HAD AS THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN AMERICA FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS JUST DOES NOT HELP EVERY INDIVIDUAL CHILD.

AND SO THERE HAS TO BE CHANGE.

THERE HAS TO BE CUSTOMIZATION.

THERE HAS TO BE MECHANISMS IN PLACE.

SO THAT EACH CHILD CAN SUCCEED, CAN GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED, THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO LIVE THE BEST, BEST VERSION OF THEIR LIFE, THEIR AMERICAN DREAM AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE.

MM HMM.

NOW I KNOW I MEAN, NOT EVERY STATE IS THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL CHOICE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE GOVERNOR IVEY KEEPS SAYING THAT SHE WANTS ALABAMA TO BE ONE OF THE TOP, YOU KNOW, MUST HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE FRIENDLY SCHOOLS.

SO BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE LOOKING AT OTHER STATES, MAYBE YOUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER STATES, HOW DOES THIS BILL COMPARE OR ARE YOU ALL REAL HAPPY WITH WHERE IT BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF AN INCREMENTAL, MORE MEASURED APPROACH THAN THE PROPOSAL LAST YEAR, RIGHT?

NO, WE'RE VERY HAPPY.

I MEAN, GOVERNOR IVEY AND SENATOR OR AND REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REALLY CRAFT A QUALITY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

THIS RANKS VERY HIGHLY IN THE NEIGHBORING STATES.

THERE ARE ABOUT SEVEN STATES WHO HAVE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IMPLEMENTED.

AND SO I THINK THIS WILL PUT ALABAMA RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PACT, IF NOT AT THE TOP OF THAT PACK BECAUSE IT IS IT IS GOING TO REALLY TRANSFORM CHILDREN'S LIVES IN THIS STATE.

MM HMM.

WELL, THERE ARE OPPONENTS TO THIS AND PLENTY OF THEM.

AND YOU HEARD SOME OF THOSE ARGUMENTS IN COMMITTEE THE OTHER DAY SAYING, LOOK, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL CHOICE IS GREAT IN THEORY AND EVERYTHING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING MAYBE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, AWAY FROM WHAT COULD GO TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DIVERTING IT TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ALSO HOME SCHOOLS.

SO I MEAN, LOOK, THAT'S THAT HAS CONCERNED LAWMAKERS FOR YEARS.

HOW CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT ARGUMENT?

SURE.

WELL, I THINK GOVERNOR IVEY'S PLAN IS SOUND AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THE BASE, THE FOUNDATION FORMULA FOR EDUCATION.

RIGHT.

THAT THE MONEY AND THE MULTIPLIERS THAT FUND ALL OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THE VARIOUS TAX RECEIPTS THAT ARE COLLECTED THROUGH THE STATE BEFORE IT EVEN GETS TO THE ETF.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST DECREASING ANYBODY APPROPRIATION OR ANY OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS FUNDING IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE.

THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING TO PROVIDE THOSE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT A DIFFERENT VERSION OF AN EDUCATION AND HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT ARE JUST NOT BEING MET.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WRITE THE BILL OR ANYTHING, BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW IT WORKS.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A TAX CREDIT, SO BUT IT WOULD ULTIMATELY GO YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE THE CHOICE TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SAY, A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?

YOU KNOW, IN PRACTICE, NOT JUST IN THEORY.

SURE.

THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND IT, IT WORKS.

YOU APPLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

IF APPROVED, YOU'LL GET AN EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED IN THAT CHILD'S NAME.

IT'S FUNDED WITH THE $7,000 PER CHILD FOR THE PARENT AND FAMILY THEN TO DIRECT TO VARIOUS EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SO MAYBE PRIVATE SCHOOL, MAYBE TUTORING, MAYBE EXTRACURRICULARS, WHATEVER THOSE NEEDS ARE FROM AN APPROVED VENDOR LIST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

SO THERE ARE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON THOSE EDUCATION EXPENSES AND NOT JUST ON WHATEVER THEY MIGHT WANT.

BUT IT IS IT IS SET UP ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.

SO THERE'S A LAYER OF ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

YEAH.

THAT WAS THE BUZZWORD WE HEARD KIND OF COMING INTO THE SESSION.

WOULD THERE BE RESTRICTIONS?

WOULD THERE BE, YOU KNOW, STANDARDS ON ACCREDITATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THAT IN THIS BILL.

MAY I ASK ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE IN GENERAL, THOUGH?

BECAUSE GOING BACK TO THE REAL GENESIS OF SCHOOL CHOICE 20 YEARS AGO, MORE THE ARGUMENT WAS OKAY, WE WANT ALL EDUCATION TO BE BETTER.

RIGHT.

AND SO LET'S LET'S ACTUALLY KIND OF CREATE COMPETITION AND IN THAT WAY MOTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE COMPETITION IMPROVEMENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT A PROPOSAL LIKE THIS COULD ACTUALLY LEAD TO SOME OF THAT OR OR IS IT MORE OF A COMPETITION FOR FUNDS?

I ABSOLUTELY THINK BETTER COMPETITION CAN LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS FOR ALL EDUCATION.

SO THERE ARE SEVERAL NATIONAL NONPROFITS WHO'VE DONE STUDIES ON THIS THAT SHOW EVEN MARGINAL INCREASES IN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEST SCORES AND OTHER TEST SCORES.

SO I THINK THERE ARE AVENUES WHERE THIS IS GOING TO HELP INCREASE, BUT REALLY IT'S ABOUT THE CUSTOMIZATION.

IT'S ABOUT FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUAL CHILD AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE GETTING THAT QUALITY EDUCATION THAT MEETS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

TOP DOWN SOLUTIONS JUST ARE VERY INEFFECTIVE USUALLY.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE A BOTTOM UP SOLUTION, THE FOCUS IS ON THE CHILD AND THEIR NEEDS.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IT IS MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL.

AND SO FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, THESE TYPES OF POLICIES AND OTHER SCHOOL CHOICE POLICIES HAVE BEEN LIFE SAVERS FOR THEM.

IT'S ENABLED THEIR CHILD TO REALLY SUCCEED IN WAYS THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN THINK WERE POSSIBLE.

WELL, GOING INTO NEXT WEEK, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG TOPIC.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

THANKS SO MUCH, TODD.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK .

FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1969 BY THE MUSCLE SHOALS RHYTHM SECTION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SWAMPERS UNTIL THE MID 1980S, THE MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIOS IN SHEFFIELD, COLBERT COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER RECORDING STUDIOS IN THE NATION.

MUSCLE SHOALS PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE IN AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC BOTH AS A PRODUCTION FACILITY AND AS A STYLISTIC >> EMBODIMENT OF SOUTHERN REGIONAL MUSIC.

THE STUDIO ALSO HELD A UNIQUE PLACE IN THE NARRATIVE OF SOUL MUSIC IN THE EARLY 1970S FROM THE ROLLING STONES TO ARETHA FRANKLIN PERFORMERS WHO RECORDED AT THE STUDIO REPRESENT SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE AND POPULAR RECORDING ARTISTS OF THE TIME.

THE REMARKABLE CONSISTENCY OF THE MUSIC CREATED BY THE SWAMPERS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE SYNERGY OF THE PLAYERS AND THEIR DEDICATION TO THE ART OF RECORDING.

THE STUDIO'S LEGACY, WHICH IS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, TESTIFIES TO MUSIC'S ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ON JUNE SECOND, 2000 >> SIX.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 730 FOR CAPITAL JOURNALS WEEK IN REVIEW.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT FOR OUR CAPITAL JOURNAL TEAM.

I'M TODD STACY.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT >> TIME